Matt Vann, of Pensacola, with a nice blackfin tuna he caught while fishing out of his kayak in the Gulf of Mexico last year.

Written by

Chris Phillips
| News Journal correspondent

As one of the fastest growing sports in the country, kayak fishing offers anglers a great way to access inshore and near-shore fishing spots without the hassle of a boat. Most kayak anglers agree that there is no other experience quite like it.

Kayakers hear the nearby bait fish activity; they see things right at the surface of the water. They are only inches above the surface as they silently stalk their prey, present the lure, and with the zing of the drag they are off on a "Gulf Coast Sleigh Ride."

A sleigh ride, as it is known in the kayak world, it's being literally pulled through the water in a ...